The Opening Ceremony at the 120th Annual IACP Conference & Expo is designed for an exciting experience. Held in the Terrace Ballroom on Saturday, October 19, from 3:30 PM until 4:30 PM, come enjoy the wide array of police ceremonial pageantry! The Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums will open the ceremony, which has also been designated as the first official business meeting of IACP 2013.

Our keynote speaker for the Opening Ceremony is Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. With his 45-year-long career in policing, Commissioner Ramsey has experienced every level of the police command structure, from his entry as an entry-level police officer in Chicago to his tenure as the Metropolitan Police Department Chief in Washington, D.C., and now as Philadelphia’s police commissioner.

Commissioner Ramsey has paved the way for responsible, community-oriented policing right into the 21st century. As the chief of police in the nation’s capital, he helped crime rates decrease by 40%, established the non-emergency phone line for the MPDC and improved the overall quality of policing within the department. In Philadelphia, he oversaw the decrease of crime rates in the city’s most dangerous precincts through community policing tactics like increased bike and foot patrols. During his time as Commissioner, Philadelphia has seen nearly a 14% reduction in violent crime and a 17% reduction in homicides.

In Commissioner Charles Ramsey’s talk, he will share his insights and unique and innovative experiences on 21st century policing. While the activities at IACP 2013 are many, the Opening Ceremony is a historic event you will not want to miss!